Display device



Jan. 7, 1969 B. R. NEWBERG DISPLAY DEVICE Filed May l2, 1967 PQ//vr FROM-AND BAU/f WALL U/v/rn [Apply CENE/vr ra 540K MILL UA//r maar Hear Amo Pefssz/pe D/s 7'0 SEAL 0655 ND TRIM ftomegg 'U.S. Cl. 206--44.12

United States Patent O 3,420,361 DISPLAY DEVICE Billy R. Newberg, W155 N11666 Sunny View Ave., Germantown, Wis. 53022 Filed May 12, 1967, Ser. No. 638,057

4 Claims Int. Cl. B65d 75/58; B65d 73/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display device includes a fiat semi-rigid back wall to which a plastic front wall is attached. The front wall includes a raised peripheral framing portion which is colored and an inner transparent viewing portion. The viewing portion is offset outwardly from the back wall a slight amount but substantially less than the total depth of the outer picture framing portion. The framing is so formed that it has a generally flat outer peripheral sealing edge and a generally flat inner peripheral sealing edge immediately surrounding the inner edge of the the framing portion. The back wall is covered with a plastic adhesive. The front wall is applied in proper alignment to the back wall and connected by applying pressure and heat along the sealing edges. For article display, the back wall and the front wall are so formed as to define pockets or receptacles accommodating articles for display. The back wall is preferably formed with a flap type opening through which admittance is provided to the space between the back wall and the transparent outer wall or cover.

This invention relates to a display device and particularly to a framing or covering structure for a picture r article for sale or other display and the like.

In the merchandising of products, it is often highly desirable to provide an advertising display at the location of sale or to actually display the product. The present invention is particularly directed to a picture-type framing structure adapted to present advertising material and/ or actual articles mounted within a decorative framing structure. Although the invention is particularly directed to such a framing structure or display device for reasons hereinafter set forth, in its broadest aspect, it can of course be employed as an actual picture frame.

A particular requirement in connection with product display devices is that of relatively low cost with a highly attractive presentation. Further, for display purposes where the product itself is formed as a part of the display, it is highly desirable that they be so constructed so as to minimize theft of the individual articles from the display.

Generally, in accordance with the present invention, the display device employs a rigid or semi-rigid plate-like supporting back wall member or unit having a relatively flat peripheral edge portion. A front frame unit is preformed from a suitable plastic sheet or the like to define a raised peripheral framing portion corresponding to the peripheral edge portion of the backing wall and an inner transparent viewing portion. The framing is so formed that it has a generally flat outer peripheral sealing edge and a generally flat inner peripheral sealing edge immediately surrounding the inner edge of the framing p0rtion. The frame unit between the two sealing edges is painted or otherwise treated to provide a desired decorative effect while the intermediate viewing portion spanning the inner peripheral sealing edge is a clear transparent plastic. Applicant h-as found that the inner portion is preferably struck outwardly from the back sealing plane of the sealing edges a slight amount but substantially less than the total depth of the outer picture framing portion.

ICC

In the method of construction, the backing plate is covered with a suitable fluid adhesive which may be allowed to dry. The outer frame unit is preformed and applied in proper alignment to the back wall. Pressure and heat is applied along the outer and inner sealing edges such that the frame unit is firmly affixed to the backing plate. Applicant has found that this construction provides a very reliable mounting of the plastic frame and supports the plastic frame in its display position with exceptionally realistic appearance to an actual solid frame structure. For article display, the back wall and the front wall are so formed as to define pockets or receptacles accommodating articles for display.

The back wall is preferably formed with a flap type opening through which admittance is provided to the space Abetween the back wall and the transparent outer wall or cover. For example, in merchandising of pencils, pens and similar small articles, the intermediate framing or front portion spanning the inner sealing edges may be preformed to define pockets with the edges sealed to the back Wall in the same manner as the outer and inner edges of the frame unit are sealed to the back wall. The articles can be readily placed and removed from the pockets through the opening in the back wall as a merchandising accommodation. Limiting access to the opening in the back wall minimizes dangers of theft and the like.

Applicant has found that this device provides a very inexpensive and esthetically pleasing display unit for merchandise, pictures and the like.

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates preferred constructions of the present invention in which the above advantages and features as well as others will be clear from the following description.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a front elevational View of a display unit constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken generally on line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a particularly unique sequence for providing optimum construction; and

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention for showing an alternative back wall construction for the present invention.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, the present invention is shown in connection with a display device for merchandising of well known ball .point pens 1 or other similar small rod-like objects. Generally, the device consists of a back wall member or unit 2 having a wall mounting hook opening 3 or other suitable means to the back surface thereof and a front framing member or -unit 4 covering the back wall unit 2. The outer or front wall unit 4 includes an outer peripheral frame portion 5 encircling a clear inner transparent display portion 6 through which the pens 1 are displayed. A substantial plurality of horizontally aligned pockets 7 each generally corresponding to the size of one of an individual pen 1 are Shown, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, spanning the upper half of the display portion 6 with the lower half being provided for adver tising' copy 8 or other associated articles; .for example, a packet 9 of pen refills for the pen units.

The -back wall 2 is provided with a hinged flap or cover 10 shown as an integral member for purposes of illustration which permits access to the pen pockets. The upper edge of the flap 10 is aligned with the frame portion 5 to cover the joint. Similarly, the back wall unit 2 is provided with suitable slits or small openings 11 to insert and remove the refill packets.

More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the back wall unit 2 is shown as a single fiat planar member formed of a suitable plastic although cardboard or any other suitable material preferably having a semi-rigid characteristic to add physical support and rigidity to the display device may be employed. The hook opening 3, the flap-like cover and slit 11 are formed and any advertising copy `8 applied to the front surface in any known or desired manner.

The front wall unit 4 is formed of a single continuous piece or sheet of plastic which originally is a generally fiat planar member and which is formed to the configuration shown in cross section shown in FIGS. 1-3. The outer peripheral frame portion 5 is generally channelshaped to define a substantially outwardly projecting raised frame portion having any suitable cross section. The frame portion 5 is formed with an outer generally planar sealing lip 12 completely encircling the front wall unit and generally corresponding to the outer peripheral edge configuration of the back wall unit 2. A second sealing lip 13 is provided immediately adjacent the inner edge of the raised frame portion 5 and essentially in the same plane as the outer lip 12. The front wall unit 4 is secured to the back wall unit 2 along the outer and inner lips 12 and 13 by a suitable adhesive preferably in a novel manner as hereinafter described.

The frame portion 5 is covered with a suitable decorative paint 14 or other material to provide a realistic, decorative encircling frame for the inner display portion 6 which extends from and integrally joins with the display portion within the frame portion. Generally, the display portion is raised or offset outwardly with respect to the back wall unit 2 a very small amount with respect to the total depth of the outer frame, as shown at in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the upper portion is formed with the pen receiving pockets 7 by prerforming of the plastic with the outwardly offset portions which extend beyond the normal viewing position and also project inwardly to define sealing lips or edges 14 in the plane of lips 12 and 13.

In the construction of the device, the preformed sequence of steps is generally shown in block diagram in FIG. 4. As diagrammatically shown, a fiat blank or sheet of plastic for the `front wall unit 2 is printed if any copy is to 'be made a part thereof. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the legend For Grads is shown applied to the bottom side of the frame portion 5. Further, the copy 8 is applied to the blank or sheet for back wall unit 2. Generally, in a mass production processing, the front and back wall units will be ymade in a multiple number on single large blanks with separation into individual units after interconnection of the wall unit blanks. The back wall unit and the front wall unit would then be preformed to the cross sectional configuration shown in FIGS. 1-3 within the large blanks.

The blank from which the back wall unit 2 is formed is covered with a suitable pressure-heat sealing cement such as Du Pont Thermoplastic Cement No. 4621 made by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del. The finished blanks containing front and back wall units 2 and 4 are then aligned and adhesion effected by applying heat and pressure along the outer and inner edges 12 and 13. Heat and pressure is also applied to the edges dening the pen receiving pockets 7 except in alignment with fiap 10. Thus, the blanks can be disposed in suitable press mechanisms having a heating and pressure die member formed to mate with the sealing edges of each display device and the die member can also include a severing and trimming knife to separate several devices from the blank. A suitable decorative material 14 is applied to the outer frame portion 5 either by spraying, wiping or otherwise applying the material to the frame structure.

The sequence of steps given is one which has been known to provide a very reliable and economical means of manufacture wherein the front frame structure is firmly attached to the back wall structure to maintain a rigid self-supporting unit which has the appearance of a solid finished frame structure.

Obviously, where the display unit of the present invention is employed in connection with a picture or other written and pictorial display material, the display portion 6 of the front wall unit may be formed as a continuous planar raised surface spaced slightly from the plane of the back wall, as at 15 and as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5. Further, a pictorial display unit may have the usual easel members, not shown, formed in the back wall 2 as an inserted picture or the like provides a cover over the openings created when the easel members are swung out. In display devices, rather than forming of the front wall unit, the back wall structure may be suitably formed to provide the pocket or article receiving structure; for example, as shown in FIG. 5. The structure of FIG. 5 essentially corresponds to that of the previous embodiment and only the difference is defined in detail with the corresponding elements otherwise identified by corresponding numbers for simplicity and clarity of explanation.

The back wall unit 2 is formed with one vertical half as a flat member to which suitable advertising or information copy is applied. The opposite vertical half includes a rearwardly curved portion or pocket wall 16 which extends rearwardly .from the continuous portion to define a recessed display area. The wall 16 extends to the lower edge of the display device and forms a supporting easel for standing of the device on a counter, not shown, or other supporting surface. A bottom wall 17 is provided in the display pocket while the top thereof is left open. An article 18, shown as a bottle, is disposed on the bottom wall for display through the transparent portion of the front wall unit 4.

The central viewing or display portion 6 of the unit 4 is formed as a continuous planar and integral member offset slightly from the back wall unit 2 adjacent the inner sealing edge surrounding the frame portion 5.

In FIG. 5, a possible alternative method of firmly afiixing the front frame unit 4 to the back wall unit 2 is shown wherein an outer sealing lip 19 is bent inwardly in the same plane as the inner lip on the inner edge of the frame portion 5.

The frame structure of FIG. 5 otherwise corresponds to that shown in FIG. 1.

The present invention has been found to provide a highly esthetically acceptable and realistic frame structure for a display device and the like and in particular provides a means for displaying of the articles in an attractive manner while minimizing the exposure to the removal and theft of individual articles from the display unit.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A display unit comprising a back wall unit having a generally fiat perimeter portion and a flat plate-like member, a plastic front frame unit having an outer frame portion projecting forwardly of a back plane and generally corresponding to the perimeter portion with a generally transparent portion spanning the frame portion and offset from the back plane of the frame member, said front frame unit being sealed to the backing member along the perimeter portion, said transparent portion including a plurality of offset portions secured to the plate-like member and defining article receiving pockets, and means in the member establishing access to the pockets.

2. The display unit of claim 1 wherein the outer frame portion of the front frame unit is a channel-shaped member having coplanar sealing lips to the opposite sides, the transparent portion includes a plurality of offset portions having sealing edges in the plane of said sealing lips and projecting forwardly of the principal plane of the trans- 5 parent portion, said edges being secured to the plate-like member and defining said article receiving pockets.

3. The display unit of claim 1 wherein the fiat plate-like member is a semi-rigid member having a ap member integrally formed therein, said part of each of said offset portions being aligned with the flap member, with the edges of the offset portions being sealed to said plate-like member to define said article receiving pockets.

4. A display unit comprising a back wall unit having generally flat perimeter portion, a plastic front frame unit having an outer frame portion projecting forwardly of a back plane and generally corresponding to the perimeter portion with a generally transparent portion spanning the frame portion and oliset from the yback plane of the frame member, said front frame unit being sealed to the backing member along the perimeter portion, said back wall unit is a plate-like member formed of a semi-rigid material having a rearwardly disposed portion defining a display pocket, and the transparent portion of said front frame unit is a clear planar portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,296,596 9/1942 Brown 40-154 2,811,246 10/ 1957 Sloane.

2,950,004 8/1960 Acomb 206--78 2,958,172 11/ 1960 Branche.

3,129,817 4/ 1964 Rohdin 206-78 3,202,277 8/ 1965 Lewi 206-78 3,250,387 5/1966 Jacobson et al 206-78 3,326,372 6/ 1967 Fineman et al. 206-80 MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

